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M.B.C.H.
22/12/16

Dear Mother,

Well I missed writing last Wed., but really I did feel rotten and tired so just went to bed. My cold is immensely better, but not all better yet. Last night I intended writing but at 5.30 word came that a draft of six was to go to Seaford and of course they took Begg away from me, so we proceeded to Folkestone, to attend a show. It was “Iolanthe” a comic (?) Opera and was so punk that I slept most of the first act, and when it was over (2 acts) we struck for home. They must have searched England for a homely bunch of girls, and they sure got them.

The newest rumor re No. 10 is that we have orders to take over a new hospital, being built, (South or) West of Brighton. It was news to me that the nurses had been recalled from France. Sister King (No 10) from Kincardine is relieving our regular sister who is on pass. She is from Kincardine, and knows Rev. Wright very well. Before Sister Charlton went on pass, she gave me 10/- for a present. I was not expecting anything like that, and will have to celebrate when she comes home. Our ward is very nicely decorated and I will have to get a picture of it.

I have £5 in the savings bank yet, about £2/10/- on hand, besides order I received from you to-night Thanks. I will not make London trip, as nearly all passes have been cut out. Begg and I had applied for passes to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Corp Mac Carm and one of the others just returned from there and report a fine time. Mac is sick for couple of days so I will be a little lonely till he comes down again. I have heaps of reading and writing tho, that I cannot keep up.

I received your two letters to-night Dec 2 and 7. Emerson, Floss and Ivy Olds, who used to attend school there, now in Simcoe. I wrote her about a month ago.

I received Nert’s parcel containing, pencil, guide lines and note book (which someone swiped last night) no rubber stamp or automatic button. (but don’t need button now) want stamp tho. Your parcel No 1. Thanks very much, have not eaten anything but dates, as expect I can spend Christmas night, with 168^th bunch in Folkestone. Two parcels from Floss, dandy bath towel, wash cloth, shaving towel and book, also Gert’s parcel.

Everything is hustle and bustle around the barracks, getting ready for a “Merry Christmas,” but quite a bunch of the patients, are being sent out to other hospitals early in the morning, and some of them are rather sore at not being left here for Christmas. Most of them are glad tho, to get out of M.B.C.H.

I don’t know Tommy Davidson’s No. so have no way of finding him. As soon as he is in any danger tho, He will be reported in the serious list, even these recover. I remember on 31, I took up a fellow’s papers to put him on the list, but I believe they have saved him, altho it has been a long hard fight. He had wounds, you could stick three or four fingers in, easily. Our surgeons here do one really fine work. Of course, the missing, like Williams, no one knows what becomes of them. They may be out scouting and get buried by a shell explosion and no trace of them is ever found.

With four pairs of sox on the way, I will have enough to last for some time. None of the hand knits, have shown a sign of a hole yet. The grey pair I think it was the institute gave me, disappeared some time ago. I don’t know just when nor how. Please don’t send any more, till I say so because I have too much to pack now. If we are ordered to France in the Spring, I will have some bunch of stuff to send home, for I will carry as little as possible.

I can’t give Miss McRae a letter at present. If I wrote as I think, I would be shot at sunrise and I cannot write otherwise. Our hospital may be different tho.

I do really have a time reading your letters sometimes, but know just how it is. I usually write in a great rush too.

The enclosed slip will give you some idea of the appeals that are being made on the food question. I have heard that it is now an offence to ice a cake. This will be hard on me, because I used to enjoy the cakes down town, but have not been down for a meal for a little while.

Must write Floss now.

Lovingly,
Worth.